Bear Win 23-13

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Nov 1, 2004 2:30PM

Halloween night looked to offer up a scary matchup in front of a nation-wide ESPN audience between the 1-5 Bears and the 1-5 San Francisco 49ers. The Bears came away with the 23-13 victory, thanks in part to a big plays by a number of rookies.

Rookie QB Craig Krenzel -- in his very first play in his very first NFL start -- hit fellow rookie Bernard Berrian on a 49-yard TD pass, giving the Bears an early 7-0 lead. Krenzel looked more like a rookie the next two possesstions -- when he fumbled the ball, which was returned for a TD, followed by an interception.

The game remained close until rookie Nathan Vasher sealed the deal by intercepting the ball and returned it 71 yards for a TD, which gave the Bears their 10 point lead with under 4 minutes to go in the game.

In his first NFL start, Krenzel finished the night completing 13 of 25 passes for 168 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, and got the win. Not too bad... certainly better than what we saw from Jonathan Quinn.